Electrical connector or socket.



J. C. SYEARNS.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 0R SOCKET.

APPLICATION man MAR. 23 1912.

1,137,295. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

jmrzlarx WTWJW/ Cc/Zm/w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASON C. STEARNS, 6F WORCESTER, MASSACEU'SETTS.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR- OR SOCKET.

Application filed March 23, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASON C. STEARNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electrical Connector or Socket, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electrical connector or socket for general use, but par ticularly adapted for use in making the electrical connections on automobiles, or for mounting incandescent lamps.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive form of connector which has some features that can be used also on switches and sockets. Also to provide a construction of a simple cylindrical form externally so that it can be inserted in a bored hole in the wall. to which it is to be applied.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will appear hereinafter.

,leference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in central longitudinal cross section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the several elements re moved from each other, and Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section showing a modification. I

The invention is shown as comprising an external cylindrical casing 10 of sheet metal having a transverse fiat flange 11 by which it can be secured to a plane surface. This flange is preferably integral with the cylindrical portion of this casing. This casing is provided with slots 12 constituting a bayonet joint for receiving a. plug 14 having projecting pins 15 oppositely located to enter said slots and complete the bayonet joint. The plug is shown as consisting of a block of insulating material having two terminals, anchor ng elements, or current carriers 16 of cylindrical form and made of metal which tightly fit in perforations extending through the plug 14, their ends being flush with one end of the plug. These terminals have sockets 17 in the opposite end having screws 18 for securing the ends of a pair of conductors therein. This insulating block is showri as provided with an armor 19 comprising a brass cylinder having slots-20 for the pins and adapted to slide on the block to expose the screw heads. This metallic cyl- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 685.708.

inder is provided with a screw-thread 21 at the end for receiving a metallic member 22 which has an ogee shape in cross section with the end spaced from the end of the plug 14 so as to be adapted to hold the cable conductor or the like passing into its end and bind it down to the end of the insulating block and prevent displacement of the terminals and cross circuiting without any danger of bending the conductors sharply at any point. This member is normally spaced from the plate 11 to permit the whole thing to move in and outin order to disengage it from the bayonet joint.

Mounted in the other end of the cylindrical casing 10 is an insulating plug 25 which may be an ordinary electrical connecting plug, or an Edi-swan incandescent lamp base, or the like. This plug has a pair of socket terminals 26 projecting from the end thereof and adapted to receive wires or cables therein which can be fastened by screws 27. Inside the casing this plug is provided with a pair of plungers 28 pressed inwardly by springs 29 and connected with the two terminals. These plungers are adapted to engage the flat surface of the first mentioned plug so as to apply spring pressure thereto when the latter is inserted and to keep the two plungers resiliently pressed. against the conducting terminals thereof when it is moved around into the bayonet joint.

It will be seen that this device can be placed in a bored hole in the wall and fastened to the outside thereof in a very simple manner; that the terminals are kept in firm contact with each other by spring pressure; and that the Same springs act to hold the re movable plug in its locked position in the bayonet joint.

Another form of the external connection is shown in Fig. 4. In this case the plug 30 which fits within the casing is entirely composed of insulating material, as hard rubber,

and provided with a collar 31 beyond the end of which is a screw-thread made on the surface of the hard rubber. A cable or other conductor is led into the terminals through an insulating bushing 3 1 which screws on the screwthreads up against the collar. Otherwise the construction and operation are the same.

Although I have illustrated and described Only two forms of the invention, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but

What I do claim is l. As an article of manufacture, an electrical connector comprising a cylindrical casing, a removable plug in the end of the casing provided with terminals, said remov able plug being provided with sockets at its end for receiving a pair of conductors and haying an external circumferential enlargement at the end beyond the end of the casing, a cylindrical armor fitting freely between said plug and casing, and fitting against the edge of said enlargement, and having an external screw thread at the end, and a member adapted to be received by said screw thread and having a central opening in the end through which the conductors may enter, said member being provided with a surface curved inwardly toward the central opening and spaced from the screwthreaded end for engaging the conductors and holding them firmly in position.

As an article of manufacture, an elec-' trical connector comprising a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical plug entering the end of the casing and adapted to be held therein and having terminals in one end, and sockets in its other end for receiving conductors, said sockets being provided w h screws for holding the conductors in position, and an armor cylinder slidahh mounted on said plug, located inside said casing but projecting from the end thereof, to permit the screw heads to be exposed by the sliding of the armor from over them.

3. As an article of manufacture, an electrical connector or socket comprising a casing, a plug adapted to be inserted in the end of the casing and having a radial pin projecting from its surface, said casing having means for engaging said pin and holding the plug in position said plug being of insulating material, and a metallic armor longitudinally sl'idable thereon and provided with a longitudinal slot for said pin.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JASON C. STEARNS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, (J. Fonnns'r W ESSON. 

